I have a manufacturing business (CNC machining) so everytime I sell a load of aluminum chips I go shopping. I started recently aquiring different bourbons and I'm now up to 32 different bottles. I'm always on the lookout for more. Pretty soon I'm going to spring for a PVW 23 as I already have the 12 and 20. I will be opening them as that's what their for aren't they? :D

How big is your collection and are they opened or unopened?

TNbourbon

04-04-2008, 11:36

I don't know. I'd have to dig through boxes, inventory several shelves, and wander through the house to figure it out.
I don't consider it a 'collection' so much as a whiskey pantry -- from which every bottle that isn't currently open (there are 50 of those, by the way, including all types of whiskey) will be at some point.

DoubleT

04-04-2008, 12:19

Currently, I have 6 bottles. I know, not much but times are tight. But what I have is a nice collection I think...

I did have 7 bottles but I finished the last of my Evan Williams Green Label last night. That means its time for a trip to the liquor store.

ggilbertva

04-04-2008, 16:29

If you look under this (http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3213)thread, you will see some of the bunkers out there. I don't know how many different bottles I have but total count is somewhere around 240 bottles. I have multiple of a number of bottles. Also, you didn't list the Pappy 15...if you don't have that one, you will want to pick that up also.

CorvallisCracker

04-04-2008, 16:31

I have a manufacturing business (CNC machining) so everytime I sell a load of aluminum chips I go shopping. I started recently aquiring different bourbons and I'm now up to 32 different bottles. I'm always on the lookout for more. Pretty soon I'm going to spring for a PVW 23 as I already have the 12 and 20. I will be opening them as that's what their for aren't they? :D

How big is your collection and are they opened or unopened?

It's not how big it is, it's what you can do with it.

Seriously, if you're interested in other peoples collections, you should take a look at the "Show Us Your Stash" thread. The latest entries to this are from March 27. I note your first post is from March 30, which may be why you missed it.

As for myself, I'm not a collector. Of anything. Stamps, coins, butterflys or bourbon. Other people are. If that's what they're into, great. I don't mean that in a patronizing way; I genuinely think it's great. Everyone should have at least one passion.

I have a number (in no particular order): riding my motorcycle, fishing (fresh water), reading, romantic interludes with my wife, fine dining and drinking, both wine and spirits.

WRT bourbon, I try to have a number of selections on hand for various purposes, as in:

1. A well bourbon - a mixer for guests, parties
2. The SB.com BOTM
3. A corn/rye everyday pour
4. A corn/wheat everyday pour
5. A corn/rye "one notch up" when I want to indulge myself
6. A corn/wheat "one notch up" when I want to indulge myself
7. An open Special Occasion bourbon
8. An uopened (i.e., in reserve) Special Occasion bourbon
9. An unopened VERY VERY Special Occasion bourbon (I'll know what that is when it happens)

As the GTS approaches its end (and the opening of the WT AS is imminent) I will likely pick up a bottle of PVW 20.

HighTower

04-04-2008, 17:39

I just checked out the Excel spreadsheet I have my bourbon on (which I am slack at updating) and it puts me about the same as Greg, about 240 bottles.
33 are open, and of the full ones I have multiples of more than a few different bourbons, like WTAS, RR101, WR and EC12.

Scott

barturtle

04-04-2008, 18:22

Even though I have been bunkering for a fairly long time, I still only have beginner levels of stocking. A mere 224...oh, make that 223, bottles are in stock. One of these days I'll actually start getting serious about this collecting stuff...

However even though my totals are quite newbish, my number of individual labels is fairly nice:
30 different ryes
2 corn
7 Tennessee
1 Wheat
127 Bourbon (I had this higher the other night, but think I miscounted then)

70% of my labels are out of production.

As you can tell from the numbers, few of my bottles are backed up...

bobbyc

04-04-2008, 18:40

I haven't added to my collection much in the past 2 years save the Kentucky Barrel Society and SB.com bottlings. I haven't counted what I have in a long while and probably won't any time soon. I can tell you this, a double 6 case of Bulleit Thoroughbred was dropped just inside the living room 2 or more years ago, it has made it across the room and still isn't to the actual bunker yet.
I have too much/not enough bourbon bunkered at this time.

Barrel_Proof

04-04-2008, 19:01

Just plain lost count about a year ago. Used to be right on top of it, but no longer. There are several dozen :cool: different bottlings, and multiples :cool: of many of the finest among them.

The collecting (read, sharing with friends) highlight for me would be the day I showed up at Bobby's with a half dozen bottles or more harvested here and there, including a Wild Turkey Freedom that had traveled from Kentucky to the DFS Galleria shop at JFK in New York, to Tokyo, then Hong Kong, then hand carried across the border into mainland China, where it stayed for a while ... then back again via the very same route -- Shenzhen to Hong Kong to Tokyo to New York to Kentucky. Bobby and I had some fun that day, when this bottle made its way back to the land of its birth!

Stu

04-04-2008, 21:00

When I started drawing social security I decided it was time to start thinning out my bottles. I probably have less than 200 now and diminishing rapidly.

Stu

spun_cookie

04-04-2008, 22:52

I am sitting on around 100.... few real backups...

JamesW

04-05-2008, 05:06

I have 30 bunkered at the moment.

Jazzhead

04-05-2008, 08:46

I have some unopened bottles bunkered in the basement, but I always have 20 or so bottles on the top shelf in my music room, where I read, listen to jazz, sip good hooch, and post missives on the internet. The bottles "on display" (and all open, of course) as I write this are, from left to right (scotch on the left, bourbon on the right)

Balvenie 15 yo single barrel

Rosebank 15 yo 1991

Littlemill 12 yo

Bladnoch 1987 cask strength

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Lagavulin 16 yo

Caol Isla 18 yo

Talisker Distillers Edition

Ledaig 10 yo

Clynelish 14 yo

Macallan Fine Oak 15 yo

Macallan Cask Strength

George T Stagg (this year's edition)

Saz Rye 18 yo

Pappy van Winkle 15 yo

Old Charter 10 yo

Old Forrester BIB

Wild Turkey RR101

Wild Turkey Rye (Maryland distilled, a dusty from the seventies)

Ridgemont Reserve 1792

Walker's Deluxe

Knappogue Castle 1994

Bushmills 1608

Let's see, that's three lowlands with one cask strength; four highland/Speysides with one cask strength; five peat monsters; two ryes, six rye-based bourbons with one cask strength, one wheated bourbon, and two Irish.

:)

CorvallisCracker

04-05-2008, 09:50

Littlemill 12 yo

Though I don't care for most Scotch (because of the peat), I've enjoyed a couple of lowland ones (Auchentoshan, Glenkinche).

The Littlemill 12 just showed up at a local liquor store, and I've been eyeing it. Cost is $64.

What do you think of it?

Jazzhead

04-05-2008, 10:06

I'd say go for it, CC. This is my second bottle of the Littlemill 12 (from Preis imports; I believe it's a distillery bottling) To me, good Lowland scotch is like good Irish whiskey - no peat, but with plenty of sweet honey. The Littlemill doesn't have the "grassy" taste I associate with Auchentoshan. It reminds me most of Redbreast or Knappogue Castle.

Peat has it's place - I love a good peaty mess when I'm in the mood for it - but Lowland malt is both rare and special. Littlemill is a tough find around these parts - treat yourself to some of the good stuff.

ggilbertva

04-05-2008, 10:39

Though I don't care for most Scotch (because of the peat), I've enjoyed a couple of lowland ones (Auchentoshan, Glenkinche).

The Littlemill 12 just showed up at a local liquor store, and I've been eyeing it. Cost is $64.

What do you think of it?

Some Highlands are also very good and have limited Peat. Dalwhinnie and Bruichladdich come to mind.

squire

04-05-2008, 11:51

Enough to last indefinitely, could use a few more though, just to be sure.

Virus_Of_Life

04-05-2008, 14:02

Simply, probably more than I should have, but in no way shape or form enough!!

camduncan

04-05-2008, 14:14

Current count is 48 bottles. I tend to bunker bottles not available in the Australian Market, or only available in small batches when I can get them. They will all be opened given the right time, group of (bourbon appreciating) friends, or when I feel I want to try something special.

The collecting (read, sharing with friends) highlight for me would be the day I showed up at Bobby's with a half dozen bottles or more harvested here and there, including a Wild Turkey Freedom that had traveled from Kentucky to the DFS Galleria shop at JFK in New York, to Tokyo, then Hong Kong, then hand carried across the border into mainland China, where it stayed for a while ... then back again via the very same route -- Shenzhen to Hong Kong to Tokyo to New York to Kentucky. Bobby and I had some fun that day, when this bottle made its way back to the land of its birth! __________________
That was a fun day! That bottle and the 4 Roses Single Barrel from Nice France are more well traveled than myself.

Looking at the ol' Excel spreadsheet, it turns out I have about 70 pint-size or larger bottles representing 50 different labels (that is, about 20 in bunker stock) and another 30 minis -- mostly older stuff that I picked up on eBay. About half of my collection is open, with a Frankenrye and a Frankenwheat bottle to collect the near-empties.

Knutzen

04-06-2008, 21:39

Well, I killed off Weller SR (marinating pork chops with the last drizzle) and Buffalo Trace (had to get through watching Cloverfield somehow...), so...

I've got 3 left around. :skep:

Schpyder

04-07-2008, 16:54

Some Highlands are also very good and have limited Peat. Dalwhinnie and Bruichladdich come to mind.

Bruichladdich is actually an Islay, although usually unpeated. They do have some peated releases (the 3D bottlings), but it's rare under the Laddie label. :)

My collection is just a baby right now, with about a dozen bourbons and half as many ryes. Also a dozen or so single malts. And a bunch of other spirits as well. Oh man.

ggilbertva

04-07-2008, 17:10

Bruichladdich is actually an Islay, although usually unpeated. They do have some peated releases (the 3D bottlings), but it's rare under the Laddie label. :)

You are correct and I knew that but didn't catch my faux pas. I have the Bruichladdich 15 year 2nd ed. that has very mild peat. I typically don't care for Islay but this one is good.

Schpyder

04-07-2008, 17:41

You are correct and I knew that but didn't catch my faux pas. I have the Bruichladdich 15 year 2nd ed. that has very mild peat. I typically don't care for Islay but this one is good.

Pfft, like it even matters much these days. The latest Malt Advocate had a pretty good article on how the specific "regions" of single-malts are getting pretty blurred these days, what with peated releases from the likes of Ardmore and BenRiach, and the unpeated Islays, and Speyside-style Highlanders and vice-versa.

But man, we're getting off track here. This is about bourbon! (and rye! and other american whiskeys, I guess...)

ACDetroit

04-07-2008, 20:16

So I finished the EXCEL spread sheet last week and well...I'm embarrassed! Sealed bottles 317 wit 110 different labels. Not including RYES! SO I'M GOOD FOR BOURBON FOR A BIT! Damn CAP lock!

Tony

Huegeb

04-08-2008, 05:43

Just plain lost count about a year ago. Used to be right on top of it, but no longer. There are several dozen :cool: different bottlings, and multiples :cool: of many of the finest among them.

The collecting (read, sharing with friends) highlight for me would be the day I showed up at Bobby's with a half dozen bottles or more harvested here and there, including a Wild Turkey Freedom that had traveled from Kentucky to the DFS Galleria shop at JFK in New York, to Tokyo, then Hong Kong, then hand carried across the border into mainland China, where it stayed for a while ... then back again via the very same route -- Shenzhen to Hong Kong to Tokyo to New York to Kentucky. Bobby and I had some fun that day, when this bottle made its way back to the land of its birth!

Hello Barrel Proof,

Of the many places I have been through my travels, Hong Kong and Shenzhen are of my favourites. In both, the culture is so very rich and eclectic. And both locations are so beautiful. If I had my choice I would love to live in Shenzhen the most. Truly a beauty to behold in so many ways. Thankfully GB gave back to China what truly was theres.

Kindest,

Geb

bromike666

04-10-2008, 10:03

I'm all inspired. Tonight I'm going to create a Filemaker database to start keeping track of my growing collection. I figure I'd better get started now rather than wait a few years and play catch up.

I'm planning on including fields for pictures, date purchased by bottle, price paid, where purchased, date opened, date drained and a field for notes. I'll have sub categories by type to log multiple bottles of the same bourbon. I'll keep it on our server and can access it via wireless from wherever I am sipping. Anything I'm missing?

Once it's completed I'll be happy to share the layout with anyone that runs a Filemaker system.

ggilbertva

04-10-2008, 10:06

I've only gone so far as create an Excel spreadsheet. I did start the construction of an Access db but haven't completed it yet. My development skills are rusty and it's a chore.

barturtle

04-10-2008, 10:09

I've only gone so far as create an Excel spreadsheet. I did start the construction of an Access db but haven't completed it yet. My development skills are rusty and it's a chore.

Yeah, I had the thought to do an Access DB, but it's a lot more trouble than a simple Excel spreadsheet. I wanted all the matching pictures, good reports, etc. But the Spreadsheet has worked well.

bromike666

04-10-2008, 10:14

I've only gone so far as create an Excel spreadsheet. I did start the construction of an Access db but haven't completed it yet. My development skills are rusty and it's a chore.

You just need the right gf to help out. I'm a Filemaker doofus, she wears the computer pants around our house.

ggilbertva

04-10-2008, 10:14

Yeah, I had the thought to do an Access DB, but it's a lot more trouble than a simple Excel spreadsheet. I wanted all the matching pictures, good reports, etc. But the Spreadsheet has worked well.

I have mine in Access. Not that much extra work really and REAL EASY to sort.
Joe :usflag:

felthove

04-10-2008, 15:30

So I finished the EXCEL spread sheet last week and well...I'm embarrassed! Sealed bottles 317 wit 110 different labels. Not including RYES! SO I'M GOOD FOR BOURBON FOR A BIT! Damn CAP lock!

Tony

Damn that's a lot of bourbon. May I ask, Tony, what you do for a living that gives you so much time to search for bourbon yet the $ to afford what you actually find?

Cheers!

Ron

ACDetroit

04-10-2008, 17:53

Nothing as exciting as most of the group here! I am done buying for a while as I think I cleared out most areas near me! Still have a few I want to check out. As you can guess Ron I need to restock my account after all the fun I had hunting. :grin:

Tony

ThomasH

04-11-2008, 13:30

I counted up my collection today and have 240 bottles. Only 4 or 5 brands have extras bunkered and of the 240, less than 10 are unopened. My collection will increase when I travel to Ky. to the sampler. The 240 I counted are all full size bottles. I also have a collection of 2000+ minis with approx. 300 bourbon minis!

Thomas

callmeox

04-11-2008, 13:35

I counted up my collection today and have 240 bottles. Only 4 or 5 brands have extras bunkered and of the 240, less than 10 are unopened. My collection will increase when I travel to Ky. to the sampler. The 240 I counted are all full size bottles. I also have a collection of 2000+ minis with approx. 300 bourbon minis!

Thomas

I call for an Ohio Tasting at Thomas' house! :grin:

ggilbertva

04-11-2008, 16:05

I call for an Ohio Tasting at Thomas' house! :grin:

I second that motion.......

wadewood

04-11-2008, 17:06

I updated my excel file today;169 unopened and another 12 opened.

crazyj23

04-11-2008, 18:15

well, figure i might as well make this my first post, ha, ha...

i have a whopping 3 bottles of bourbon

Makers Mark - my first (like many it seems)
Eagle Rare 10 yo
WTRB 03RB - just bought it tonight, learning to tolerate the burn, otherwise i like the flavor